TKD The Govenor's Cup

 Govenor's cup was an interesting experience we had this last weekend.  G man took home a gold metal for his poomse (forms) and a bronze medal for his sparring division.  He fought really really well and had better technique than the other child, I thought.  It was a great fight to see who ever you were rooting for.

That's the thing.  I feel guilty for rooting so loudly for our home town kids. All the kids need the support and encouragement of all the adults. One poor boy there fought without any coaching support and he lost badly. No body did anything wrong, just that we all pay to have coaches, and coaches protect you in the fight. They are there when you injure yourself, they fight for your points and safety and coach your fighting technique. This boy had no coach. I only saw the very end of his fight, and the way he held his injured hand.  My heart broke a little. These are just kids. His father sat next to him on the sidelines the rest of that division match set. Arms and legs around his son.

That just shouldn't have happened. Skill levels are all over the place and some of the scoring was too.  I think we all want to "help" and "protect" our kids. Especially when one takes a groin shot and picks himself back up and keeps fighting. It's hard to see scoring irregularities and keep your heart open. It might be that in the end I might be learning more than my son. The first lesson has to be that the score doesn't count. All these kids were gloriously brave for showing up!

My son handled him self beautifully and his poor bored sister struggled to keep her sanity. If she gets into sparring I'll be there to see her excellent training, techniques and roundhouse kicks too.  I never thought this would be my parenting road.

A Traveling We Will Go...

G and C are play Rory and Amy from Dr Who while G eats a sandwich with Tapenade on it. Who are these kids? too Much Dr. Who and the Robots in a hotel room for G to get much sleep, that is for sure...

These two are really enjoying our Newused IPAD and playing with a marble run game.

We've traveled a lot in the last three weeks, seeing both Cincinnati and Atlanta.  The Georgia Aquarium was a huge hit.  Seeing real Manta Rays and Whale Sharks won't soon be forgotten.  I only wish we hadn't seen the dolphin show (see "Blackfish").

We also saw the Cyclorama, which was a real treat.  It is a 360 degree oil painting of the battle of Atlanta, complete with diorama foreground and rotating viewing stands.

EnterTrainment was also good in Cinci, with a chance for C bird and G to see the time period we are reading in the book On the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

We have begun Delving into Roman history and our first use of Singapore Math.  I am loving the math.  After much looking into thing I decided to go with the Common Core addition.  Very happy so far.

Ballroom Skills!

     These kids did something new this summer. They have had a very patient teacher too at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in West Ashley.  The instructor wanted to me to know that Gman is not calling the dance outloud and that he can lead and she is following naturally. 

In the end I think Gman liked it more than Cbird. She struggled with wiggles.        

There are other videos but they were taken sideways. They learned moves to Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing, Waltz and this Fox Trot. They learned the most steps to the Fox trot it seemed.              

Magnolia Gardens

First Pigtails

Family!

Easter Eggs and More

 We turned Easter up a notch this year.  First we made natural food dyes and dyed free range local eggs, which started off white, blue or brown, and made our Easter Eggs. We got some really vibrant yellows and pinks.  We had no success with carrots, but we had to give it a try.  We even did a scientific write up, so we turned the whole thing into a great lesson.  Beets, blueberries, and turmeric/tea/onion peel were really the best.

     We went to the Unitarian 9 am service and the 9:30 group breakfast, which was a great chance to meet new people there finally.  Easter activities and egg hunt, usually in the beautiful overgrown, floral graveyard, because of rain it was held in Gage hall classrooms. Mark was with us and we all really got a full tour of the grounds together.
      At home the baskets were pretty simple, but each kid got a new wrist watch (to practice time on).

"Let's go see snow!"

Spontaneous trip to Maryland to see a big snowfall.  We were very excited.  I couldn't wait for my sister to help me get my kids sledding.  Unfortunately on the last day of the visit , on the last run down the hill, the kids were holding hands when they went over an unplanned ice bump, caught major air and ended up in extreme pain.  C-Birds face and shoulder, G-mans arm.  He stood up and said "It's broken, my arm is broken."  Didn't question that and ended up in the ER.

First they didn't xray . then they did and said 2-3 weeks, sent us home.

With an $80 splint.

Because in fact it was broken. Buckle Fracture of the Ulna.

She smacked the ground  with her face and shoulder.

Then they said this was a 6 week injury.  

Changing the cast...

 Textbook perfect.

Unfortunately a new cast had to go on for 3 more weeks.

Tree weeks with a crappy cast is about 20 days too long...

This is where the doctor said... three more weeks of caution.  It is a nine week injury. Yikes!

Co op and Lego League

green belting ceremomy

 Fun while it lasted.  G's team made a house that could be raised by pulley out of a tsunami style flood.

How to Be a Princess

Learn how to play Chess with Friends

Grind Coffee...

Get someone (your Mommy) to braid
your hair every day

and Enjoy the smell of it brewing.

Buy beads and share jewelry making
with you brother. 

Know what you are made of, even in a dress.

Wear hot pink...

Wear hot pink head to toe on the same day as your friend... without planning to.

Ice Storm (Snow Fail)

We first thought we would get 6 inches, then two... and then ice with flurries... but here we only received ice.  The Palm Trees around here took a beating (because of surface area I suppose).  I think the precipitation here is done... and the kids are making the most of the situation.  Thanks to a friends post on Facebook we borrowed a  fun idea. Use the Boogey Boards and get your slide on!

Lessons

This week we are tackling Madison, the Constitution, War of 1812, Dolly Madison and the Star Spangled Banner (again, they have been working on this).

To spice things up today we listened to

The Battle of New Orleans